Erin Kendrick
Jacksonville, FL
Erin Kendrick is a visual artist and arts educator from Jacksonville, Florida. She maintains a studio at CoRK Arts District in Jacksonville, Florida.
MessageCollection: Shelter-in-Place
To shelter-in-place is to seek safety amidst imminent danger. This idea resonates with the experiences of African American women and girls: because we navigate marginalized and mainstream spaces, facing inherent danger (whether real or imagined). Through a system of adapted visual and verbal cues, we forge our own codified language, defining cultural nuances that create safe spaces, foster inclusion, and offer refuge. These expressions enable us to adapt, pivot, and thrive. Through Pikin., my body of work on black girlhood, I explore the question: When does blackness become a threat and how do we teach our girls to survive?
Each character in my artwork embodies the lived experiences of black women and girls. Little Dragon. represents the assertive student who must temper her frustration, highlighting the issues of adultification and disproportionate discipline rates affecting girls of color. Tay., in red polka dot pajamas pays tribute to Breonna Taylor and reflects on police violence. As my collection evolves, more girls will join, growing older and finding safety and refuge in one another.
I create spaces where the characters can watch over one another. An integration of installation and painting, invites the viewer to reflect on their role as both spectator and spectacle. Blurring the boundaries between artwork, viewer, and space, lets me foster connection and provoke introspection. I am inspired by artists like Barkley Hendricks, Faith Ringgold, Simone Leigh, and Ebony G. Patterson, as I too invoke the transformative power of looking and seeing, engaging the viewer in the oppositional gaze.
In essence, my work delves into the resilience and strength of black womanhood through the lens of black girlhood. Through evocative visuals and immersive installations, I invite viewers to join the conversation and confront their own perspectives within the narrative.
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